Easier said than done for those who have a firm grasp on who they are and what they believe in… but what if you’re confused, or got lost along the way?

No need to fret, by the way, it happens to the best of us. We all get stuck in a rut every now and then. Even me, believe it or not- I get ‘the blahs’ really bad sometimes. But it’s never, ever a legitimate excuse to lose sight of who you are, as well as your goals.

Having a sense of self and purpose gives meaning to life.

What things do you like/love?

This is the first [and biggest] step in finding yourself, and your place in life- what do you like?

I’m not talking about the trends your friends are getting you involved in. What things do YOU, you specifically, like? Only you can answer this question, and don’t look to others to do it for you. This is about you, and you alone.

It’s okay if you don’t know off the top of your head- this is an excuse for you to get out there and try new things. Experiment. Have fun.

Chillicothe, OH – August 2013

What do you want to do with your life?

This can be a difficult question for those who are still young and inexperienced, or having an existential crisis, but it is an important one. What you choose do do with yourself defines your purpose, and several other important things about you.

Do you want to be an artist? A writer? Get into the medical fields? Law? Physics? The options are endless, and there are good choices available for all different kinds of people. Anything you can imagine, you can achieve. Don’t be afraid.

upstate NY – photo by A.D. Wheeler Photography 2014

What is your personal style?

This is the part where you take the things you like, what you want to do with yourself, and your [hopefully limitless] imagination, and mix them up, and put them on. What is the result?

Monochrome? Fluorescent colors? Family Guy t-shirt and jeans?

It’s all up to you, and is everything you make of it. Even the most laid-back, thrifty style can be super-chic, and it’s all about attitude- wear the outfit, don’t let it wear you. That’s what style is about- expressing yourself, not simply following trends. [That’s the difference between fashion (consumerism), and style (what YOU like).]

Elmira, NY – October 2014

As you can see from the photos I’ve included here [and in previous posts], my personal style has varied a bit over the years. This doesn’t make me a poser, a liar, nor a fraud, it just means that as I have grown, so have my tastes. Plus, isn’t it just so fun to experiment??